It’s a zoo at Poland North

April 19, 2013

Poland North students had a special assembly on April 11 when the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium's traveling program paid a visit. Live animals and a fun game show helped deliver the message, "The choice is ours."

"This program is all about local conservation and what we can do to make a difference," said zoo education specialist Brea Stephan.

The assembly was set up similar to the "Price Is Right" game show. It would begin with three students selected to participate. They were given dry erase paddles and had to write their guess on it after zoo education specialist Amy Feinstein asked a question about conservation. The one nearest the correct answer got to play the game.

Article Photos

Photos by J.T. Whitehouse, Town CrierPoland North student Livia DeAngelis competes in a game show about the environment as she displays her answer on what to do with purple loosestrife to her classmates and Pittsburgh Zoo education specialist Amy Feinstein.

Pittsburgh Zoo education specialist Brea Stephan shows Poland North students a box turtle during a special assembly on April 11. She also brought an opossum and an American kestrel.

Poland North Elementary students Caden Buck, Karter Kellgren, and Patterson Beachum take part in a zoo-based quiz game during an assembly with the Pittsburgh Zoo’s traveling exhibit.

Pittsburgh Zoo education specialist Brea Stephan shows Poland North students a box turtle during a special assembly on April 11. She also brought an opossum and an American kestrel.

Placing the right number on the right panel is Poland North student Karter Kellgren, who won the first game during an assembly with the Pittsburgh Zoo on Thursday, Apeil 11. He is placing the largest number in front of the sign for “how much water is used to make a hamburger?” The answer was more than 2,000 gallons.

The games consisted of placing the right number for gallons of water usage next to the appropriate item that included brushing teeth and making a hamburger. North student Karter Kellgren got all four right, including that more than 2,000 gallons of water is needed to raise the cow and eventually process the meat into a hamburger patty.

Livia DeAngelis won her "come on down" round and got to play a game where conservation items were flashed on a screen and she had to decide whether to keep it or lose it.

The final game saw North student Isabella Cherry deciding on which animals were endangered and which were not.

In between the games, the students got to see a live animal from the zoo, that included a box turtle, an American kestrel (a bird of prey similar to a hawk), and an opossum, which Stephan said lives roughly two years, but can live as long as four years at the zoo.

Stephan said the assembly was part of the Pittsburgh Zoo's outreach program.

"We visit around 400 schools per year," she said. "We really enjoyed Poland North because the students were well mannered and enjoyed the program."